Coin-actuated device



` J. PETERSEN com ACTUAT'ED DEVICE March 13, 1945.

Filed Dec.v 18, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet l March 13, 1945 J. PETERSN 2,371,260

COIN ACTUATED DEVICE Filed Dec. 18, 1959 e sheets-sheet s l I--l o @Q o@ o l f, ,0 ,2, I l L ao pig March l11?, 1945. J. PETr-:SEN v 2,371,260

G01N ACTUATED DEVICE Filed Dec. 18, 1959 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,4Z Zorn qy.

- March 13,l 1945.

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J. PETERSEN COIN ACTUATED DEV-ICE Filed Dec. 18, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March`l3, l4f5` l J. PETERSEN 2,371,260

. v COIN ACTUATED DEVICE Filed Dec. 18, 1959 6 Shets-Sheet 6 Patented Mar. 13, 1945 UmTEn STATE oom-sortieren nevica Johannes retoma, Aalborg, Denmark; venes in the Allen Property Custodian Application December 18, 1939, Serial No. 309,917

In Denmark January 9, 1939 1 claims. v(ci. iai-s) Those coin-actuated or controlled devices of the prior art designed to become operative upon the insertion of a particular coin, are subject to the disadvantage that the prospective user may not have a coin of that particular denomination in his possession. Thus, in the case of a vendot the dinerent denominations of coins for which they are designed. Above the base plate I is arranged' a tunnel-shaped part 'I (Figs. 1-3 and 13). provided with hoppers, the lower endsof ing machine no goods can be obtained from the vending machine, unless the particular coin for which the machine is made is inserted, nor can such machines be operated by inserting a number of other coins representing the value of the goods in question. This disadvantage has been to a release mechanism for vending machines, in

Jwhich each coin inserted forms part of an electric circuit, which is not fully closed until the sum of the coins representing the predetermined price of amount has been deposited to condition avoided by the present invention, which relates which are normally in register with the upper open vends of the channels .in the base plate I for the insertion of coins into said oh els. A number ot guides l are nxed to the uter face oi the base plate I and extend perpendicularly thereto ior supporting a number o! parallel auxiliary plates ln spaced relation relatively to each other and to the base plate I. Adjacent the base themachine for operation, whereupon the machine may operate, irrespective of which coins are used.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a coin-actuated mechaanism according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3--3ofFig.l. f

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line l-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5 illustrating a coin in operating position.

Figs. '7, 8, 9 and l0 are views similar to that of Fig. 5 showing, respectively, one, two, three and four coins in position within a slot adaptedA to receive four coins to eiect operation oi the device.

Fig. 11 is another view similar to that of Fig. s

Ashowing' two coins of one denomination and a single coin of another denomlnatlonin operative position. y

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. l with Isome parts shown in-section.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view partly in section oi the coin-receiving hopper.

plate I, a plate of insulating material l is i'lxed on the guidesl l. Next in order a second auxiliaryl plate -oi insulating material Il is mounted on said guides for displacement toward and away from the iixed insulating plate s. 0n the outer end of the guides i is iixed a third auxiliary plate II which serves as a supportingv and guide plate for a stem and a plunger soon referred to. This auxiliary guide plate may be constructed ot any kind ot material, either insulating or conducting material.

A yoke I2, spans the shiftable auxiliary insuy lating plate I0, the ends of thev yoke' being sec/ured to the Vshiital'ale plate III near its diametrically opposite edges. and a stem I3 projects outwardly from a central point ot the yoke I2 and through a guide and supporting aperture in the outermost auxiliary guide plate lI I ior axial shiiting.

' A plunger It is mounted for movement through the auxiliary guide plate II in a direction parallel to the movement ot the stem I3. A iulcrum post Il projecting from the outer face of the auxiliary plate Ii pivotally supports at Il, one end of a lever I1 which extends across the outer end ot the stem I2, which is slotted to accommodate the intermediate portion of the lever. 'I'he tree end of the lever projects through a, slot Il formed longitudinally oi the plunger I4.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a Y device constructed in laccordance with the presentinvention having a base plate o! insulating material I (Figs. 1, 3 and 4), in'which is formed a number of channels 2, 3, l, 5 and t, one for each denomination of coin.' These channels or chutes are formed .within the plane of the Ahase plate and of widths to correspond with the widths ss A reinforcing rib I9 is rigidly tlxed on the inner. face of the auxiliary guide plate II and has slidably mounted thereon a slide 20 provided with a slot 2I through which extends a pin 22 iixedly mounted on rib I2. Slide 2| is also provided with a slot 22 throughwhich the plunger Il passes.

The stem It has a boss 21 nxed thereon engageable by the innerend oi the slide Iller preventing laxial outward movement ot the stem I3. Slide 2l carries a pin or spring anchor 2l and a spring-25 extends from said pin 24, to

the pin 22' xed on reinforcing rib Il. This. spring urges the slide toward the stem I2 to auxiliary plate 9 fixed on the guide rods. pressing the plunger I4 inwardly, the key 25 is shift the inner end of said slide into the path of return of the boss 21.

A wedge-shaped key or cam 26 is carried by the inner end of plunger I4 and normally extends into the slot 23 of the slide 20 to retain the slide or bolt withdrawn from the boss`21 on the stem I3. The key 26 is so constructed and mounted on the rod I4 that when said plunger is in its outermost position to which it is urged by the coll spring 29 surrounding said plunger, the slide 20 will be displaced against the action of spring 25 to shift the inner end of said slide 20 out of the path of travel of the boss 21. A coil spring 28 surrounds the stem I3 and urges said stem outwardly to normally shift the boss 21 toward the auxiliary guide plate II. Both the springs 28 and 29 in urging the stem I3 and the plunger I4 outwardly also serve to displace the lever I1 outwardly. With this construction, when the plunger I4 is pushed inwardly by pressing on the knob 65, the lever I1 is displaced rearwardly to press the stem I3 and its boss 21 inwardly together with its yoke I2,

which, in turn, slides the shiftable auxiliary plate I0 along the guide rods 8 towards the insulated Upon nally within the base plate I are of various widths to accommodate coins of various denominations.

Each coin slot is provided with two parallel rows or series of apertures spaced apart from each other vertically by distances substantially equal to the diameters of the coins which the respective coin slots are designed to accommodate. These apertures extend transversely through the outer face of the base plate.

Thus, each coin slot is provided with horizontal pairs of apertures, the respective apertures of each pair being spaced apart a distance somewhat less than the diameter of the coins accepted by their particular slots.

The individual apertures of each pair with relation to their respective coin slots is such that the lowermost pair of apertures lie in line with and are comprised within the circumference of the first coin deposited in its coin slot, the next higher pair of apertures lie within the circumference of the second coin deposited in said slot, and so on, the coins stacking up edgewise in their respective slots, as deposited.

The parallel auxiliary plates 9 and Il are likewise provided with parallel rows of apertures in alignment with the respective vertical rows of apertures in the base plate I.

contact pins beyond the shoulders 54' extend through-the corresponding apertures formed in the auxiliary plates 3 and III. Springs (Figs. 2 and 3) encircling the contact pin and interposed between the outer face of the base plate I and the shoulder i4', press said contact pins outwardly until the shoulders contact the' inner face ct the stationary auxiliary insulated'plate 49, at which time the inner ends of the contact pins have been withdrawn from their respective coin slots, and their outer ends project beyondA the spring 25, carries on its outer face a series.

of vertically arranged conductor bars 33, 52, 45,

31,. 41 and 39 (Figs. 5-11) spacedapart from A each other.

The conductor bars 33, 39 will be referred to as bus bars, because the current from any suitable source 56 (Figs. 6-11), is led to the bus bar 33 conveniently arranged along one vertical edge of the base plate I, through the lead 32 and is returned to the source by the lead 40 from the bus bar 39 arranged c nveniently alongside the opposite vertical edge i the base plate.

The vertical conductor bars 52, 45, 31, 41, etc. are arranged in parallel spaced relation across the outer face of the shiftable auxiliary plate I0 in the space between the two bus bars 33, 39.

The bus bars and the conductor bars each support one or more laterally extending spring contact fingers, the lead-in bus bar 33for example, having four such fingers 50, 12, 51 and 43 laterally projecting over into contact with the outer ends of the left hand vertical row of contact pins 43, 13, 58 and 4I, respectively, associated with the coin chute 4. f

Similarly, the conductor bar.52 is provided with the single laterally extending spring contact nnger 5I, the free end of which lies upon the outer end of the contact pin 49 constituting the uppermost of the right hand vertical row of contact pins associated with the coin slot 4.

The outer ends of the remaining contact pins 14, 53 and 42 in the right hand vertical row of contact pins associated with the coin slot 4 are selectively rendered eifectlve or ineiective depending upon the adjustment of the corresponding spring contact lingers projecting leftward from a second conductor bar 45.

And the adjustment o'f all spring contact iingers depends upon the value of the article vended, for instance, and the various combinations of coins of the same or various denominations, which will equal the predetermined price of the article.

From the foregoing, therefore, it will be understood that pressure inward upon the knob of the plunger I4 will rock the lever I1 inwardly (counter-clockwise in Figs. l, 4 and 13) to slide the shiftable insulated auxiliary plate Il with its conductor bars and spring contact ngers along the guide rods 4 towards the fixed insulated auxillary plate 9. y

As a result, those spring contact fingers which lie over the outer ends of their contact pins, press the contact pins inwardly against the tensions of their restoring springs 54 until the inner ends of the contact pins are arrested by contact with such coins as have been deposited in the coin slot or slots.

If the contact pins are arrested by coins, farther travel of the slidable auxiliary plate Il merely exes the corresponding spring contact lingers.

In the absence of coins to arrest the contact pins, the latter merely continue to travel across the empty coin slot, and in those instances where the contact sprlngjiingers are out of line with their contact pins, the contact pins remain in their normal outward spring-pressed' positions.

Contact of thek inner ends of a horizontally arranged pair of pins, as 59, 59 with a coin will complete a circuit between the respective pins through the coin, and the effective or ineffective arrangement of the adjustable spring contact ngers relatively to their corresponding contact pins is determined by the predetermined price and the various combinations of coins making up that price.

Thus Figs. '7, 8, 9 and 10 show what may be termed a basic coin sequence designed for closing the electric circuit upon the deposit of four coins of like denomination in the coin chute 4.

Alternative connections are provided between the respective bus bars 33, 39.

Referring to thespaced conductor'bars 52, 45, 31 and 41, it will be noted that the spring conconnector 39, an alternative circuit to enable completion of the operating circuit in instances where the user may not have four coins of the denomination receivable in the coinchute 4, but does possess one coin 4olf higher denomination equal invvalue to all four of the lesser coins andA deposit of these coins in their proper coin chutes `4 and 3, as shown in Fig. v11, will enable the tact iingers 59, 12, 51 and 43 in circuit with the leadln bus bar 33 are all inv theirl eective positions relatively to their corresponding contact pins 49, 13, 59 and 4| forming the left hand vertical row of contact pins associated with the coin chute 4, but that only one of the spring contact fingers 69 in circuit with the conductor bar 45 associated with the coin chute 2l for coins of higher denomination, is in effective position relatively t0 its contact pin 59 of the right hand vertical row of contact pins pertaining to the coin chute 4, and thatsuch effective spring contact finger 69 is the second from the bottom,

which signifies that'it will form part of a cir-l cuit connection including the conductor bar 45, only when two coins ci like denominationl are deposited inthe coin chute 4.

It will also be noted that the conductor bar 52 vassociated with the coin chute 4 is provided with a spring contact finger 5| effectively positioned over the corresponding contact pin 49 in the rightv hand vertical row of -contact pins associated with coin chute 4, said contact pin 49 lying in position to contact the fourth coin in its stud 49 to contact the fourth vcoin deposited in the chute, whereupon the circuit between the bus bars 33, 39 will be completed through the upper spring contactiinger 59, its contact pin 49. the coin, contact pin 49, spring contact finger 5|, conductor bar 5: and connector 53.

A by-pass connector 34 extends from theleadin bus bar 33 to a spring contact linger 35 associated with the lowermost contact pin 39 in the vertical lefthand row of contact pins co-acting with coins deposited in they coin chute 2,' the complementary contact pin 3| of the pair 39, 3| being engaged by a spring contactfiriger 36 mounted on the adjacent conductor bar 31 pertaining to the coin chute 5.

A connector 49 extends between conductor bar 45 associated with the coin chute 2 and the lead-out bus bar 39, constituting with the bypass Vconnector V34, contact pins 39. 3|, coin 99 (Fig. 9), contact linger 36, conductor bar 31 and completion of a circuit from the lead-in bus bar 33, through spring contact finger 51, contact pin 459, the second coin 19 of the coins deposited .in the chute 4, contact pin 59, and its spring contact linger 69, conductor bar 45, connector 46, conductor bar 41, spring contact finger 6|, con--v tact pin 62, coin 16, contact pin 63, and its spring finger 64, conductor bar 31, and connector 38 to lead-out bus bar 39.

A magnet 61 is provided for releasing an article to be purchased from the vending machine, and said magnet is connected in the circuit between conductors 32 and 49 and including the battery or other source of current 66.

'Ihe lower ends of the coin channels in the plate are closed by a iiap 55 urged by a spring (not shown) into a position against the bottom of plate |.1 An arm 56 fixed on the iiap 55 is adapted to be connected with a. device (not shown) fordischarging the articles to be purchased from the vending machine so that the iiap 55 is opened to enable the coins to drop into a collector box (not shown) upon discharge of the goods from the vending machine.

In vusing the device according to the present invention it may be assumed that the price of 40 the article to be purchased 'from the vending machine is of a value equal to 190 units of a particular currency.

. If a single coin 69 equal in value to 100 units is inserted (Fig. 6), said coin will slide through the coin slot 2 and will assume the positioniin the bottom of said slot as shown. -Wh'en the knob 65 is then pushed inwardly, the-lever l1 will be actuated to displace the plate i9 inwardly to cause the springs 35 and 36 to move the pins 39 and 3| into engagement with the coin 68.

Upon engagement of the pins 39 and 3| with the coin 98, an electrical circuit will be completed from the battery 66, through wire 32, conductor bar 33, wire 34, spring 35, pin 39, coin 68, pin 3|, spring 36, bar 31, wire 38, bar 39, wire 49 and magnet 61 back to the battery. Upon energizing the magnet 61 a release mechanism (not shown) will serve to discharge the article to be purchased from the vending machine.

If instead cf inserting the siagne 10o-unit com' in the machine it is desired to insert four 425- unit coins, then four of said coins are inserted into the slot or channel 4 as shown in Fig, 19.

If a single 25-unit coin 69 is inserted vin slot 4v ever, upon-inserting the iinal 25-unit coin 15 l l in slot 4 and pressing the knob 65 to bring the pins and 49 into engagement with the coin 69 as indicated in Fig. 10 of the drawings, the circuit will then be completed from wire 32 through bar 33, contact spring 50, pin 48, coin 15, pin 49, contact spring 5l, bar 52, wire 53, bar 39 to wire 40. Upon completion of this circuit the magnet 61 will be actuated to effect the 'release of the goods to be purchased.

If it is desired to effect the discharge of an article of D-unit value from the machine by inserting two -unit coins and one 50-unit coin, the said two 25-unit coins 69 and 10 are inserted in slot 4 and the single 50-unit coin 16 is inserted in the slot 3 as shown in Fig. l1 of the drawings. In this case the circuit will be completedfrom wire'32, through bar 33, contact spring 5l, pin 53, coin 10, pin 59, contact spring 60, bar 45, wire 46, bar 4l, contact spring 6I,

pin 62, coin 16, pin 63, contact spring 64, bar

' circuits through various combinations of coins other than those above described. Similarly by changing the` connections between the several conductorbars and pins and contact springs,

a single coin in the slots and one of a plurality of coins stacked edge to edge, and conductors connecting said resilient contact members to complete circuits through a coin in one or a plurality of said slots.

3. A coin-actuated electric circuit-completing mechanism, comprising a plate of insulating material having a plurality of coin slots therein parallel to the plane of the plate, a plurality o1' pairs of contact pins movably extending through one face of the plate into said slots to contact coins contained in said slots, guides extending perpendicularly from said face of the plate, a second plate mounted on said guides parallel to the first-mentioned plate and movable toward and away from said mst-mentioned plate, resilient contact members carried by said second plate to engage said contact pins and urge the latter into said slots upon displacement of the second plate toward the first-mentioned plate, and means for shifting said second plate toward the rstmentioned plate.

4. A coin-actuated electric circuit-completing mechanism, comprising a plate of insulating material having a plurality ol?v coin slots therein parallel to the plane of the plate, a plurality of pairs of contact pins movably extending through one face of the plate into said slots to contact coins contained in said slots, guides extending the total value of the coins to be inserted to effect 1. A coin-actuated electric circuit-completing mechanism, comprising a Plate of insulating materia] having a plurality of coin slots therein parallel tothe plane of theplate, a plurality of pairs of contact pins movably extending through one face of the plate into said slots to contact coins contained in said slots, a second plate of insulat'- ing material mounted parallel to and for movement toward and away from the inst-mentioned plate, and resilient contact members carried by said second plate to engage said contact pins and urge the latter into said slots upon displacement of the second plate toward the first-mentioned plate.

2. A coin-actuated electric circuit-completing mechanism, comprising a plate of insulating mav terial having a plurality of coin slots therein parallel to the plane of the plate, aplurality of pairs of contact pins movably extending through one face of the plate into said slots to contact coins contained in said slots, a second plate of insulating material mounted parallel to and for /movement toward and away from the first-mentioned plate, resilient contact members carried by said second plate to engage said contact pins and urge the latter into said slots upon displacement of the second plate toward the first-mentioned plate, certain of said slots being adapted to receive a single coin.. other of said slots being adapted to receive one or more coins, and still other of said slots being adapted to receive a perpendicularly from said face of the plate, a second plate mounted on said guides parallel to the first-mentioned plate Yand movable toward and away from said first-mentioned plate, resilient contact members carried by said second plate to engage said contact pins and urge the latter into said slots upon displacement of the second plate toward the first-mentioned plate, a support carried bythe free ends of said guides, a stem carried by said second plate and extending through said support, operating means for displacing said stem to move the second platetoward the first-mentioned plate, and retractable means for retaining the second plate in its displaced position. 1

5. A coin-actuated electric circuit-completing mechanism, comprising a plate of insulating material having a plurality of coin slots therein parallel to the plane of the plate, a plurality of pairs of contact pins movably extending throughv one face of the plate into said slots to contact coinsV contained in said slots, guides extending perpendicularly from said face of the plate, a second plate mounted on said guides parallel to the first-mentioned plate and movable toward and away from said rst-mentioned plate, resilient contact members carried by said second plate to engage said contact pins and urge the latter into said slots upon displacement of the second plate toward the first-mentioned plate, a support carried by the free ends of said guides,

` a stern carried by said second plate and extendplurality lof coins, said pairs of pins being positioned at varying heights in said slots to engage ing through said support, operating means for displacing said stem to 'move the second plate toward the first-mentioned plate, retractable means for retaining the second pla' in its dis- I placed position, and means carried by the operating means operable upon release of said operating means to retract said retaining means.

6. A coin-actuated electric circuit-completing mechanism, comprising a plate of insulating material having a plurality of c oin slots therein parallelfto the plane of the plate, a plurality of pairs Vof contact pins movably extending through one face of the plate into said slots to contact coins contained in said slots, a second plate of insulating material mounted parallel to and for movement toward and away from the mst-mentioned plate, resilient contact members carried by said second plate to engage said contact pins and urge the latter into said slots upon displacement of the second plate toward the first-mentioned plate, a coin guide mounted over the entrance of said coin slotsI and means for mounting said guide on said second plate whereby said guide will be displaced with the plate to block theentrance of the slots when the plate is displaced toward the mst-mentioned plate.

7. In a coin-controlled machine, in combina.-

tion, a base plate of insulating material having a plurality of coin slots formed in the plane ofthe plate for the reception of coins of different denominations, respectively, and a plurality of pairs of apertures formed transversely of the plate through one face thereof and communicating with the respective coin-slots at predetermined spaced intervals; contact pins in the apertures for movement into and. out of contact with the coins deposited in said slots; an auxiliary plate of insulating material shiftable towards and from the base plate; resilient Contact n'gers carried alternative main circuits selective according to the values of the deposited coins, including bypass connectors elective to lead the power past those coin slots wherein no coins have been deposited, to enable the selected alternative circuit to be completed upon deposit of another combination of coins aggregating the same predetermined amount.

JOHANNES PETERSEN.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,371,260.

JOHANNES PETERSEN It is hereby eertied that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page 2, rst column, line 8, for the Word rod read plunger;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the oase in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of March, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

March 13, 1945. 

